Rotary engine



(No Model) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

J. DORNAN. ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 601,413. Patented lgarfw, 1898.

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(No Model.) 3- Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. DORNAN.

ROTARY ENGINE v No. 601,413. Patented Mar. 29,1898.

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PATENT ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,413, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed Au n t 19, 1897. Serial No. 643,777. (No model-) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN DORNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and" useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of rotary engines which consists of a wheel-piston inclosed in a steam-tight casing or cylinder provided with a steam-inlet, through which steam is directed into the casing and against the wheel-piston to revolve the same, and an exhaust for the discharge of the steam. The construction of the engine permits of operating the same with either steam,air, or water, and I therefore do not limit myself to the use of any particular motive power.

The object of my invention is to provideai simple and efficient engine having a device or means to prevent back pressure on the wheel-piston, said device being located directly below the steam-inlet and compelling the action of the steam against the wheelpiston to take place in one direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

The device consists of the inclosing casing or cylinder, havinga steam-inlet and a steamexhaust, and in which the wheel-piston revolves, a hinged valve or gate in close juxtaposition to the inlet, means for adjusting the inward movement of the valve against the wheel-piston, and packing located between the casing and the wheel-piston to prevent the escape of steam over the sides of the same.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, showing a portion of a supplypipe connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, taken on line a a, Fig. 5, showing the back-pressure valve or gate bearing against the channeled portion of the wheel. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the back-pressure valve or gate in a position when raised by the partitions or paddles forming the pockets of the wheel-piston. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the device, taken at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the wheel-piston. Fig. 7 is a section taken on a plane indicated by line b b, Fig. 3, showing the manner of pivoting the valve in the casing. Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the gate or valve.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The numeral 1 represents the inclosing casing or cylinder, provided with a steam-inlet 2 and an exhaust 3. This casing consists of the circular body portion 4 and the sides 5, which are provided with stuffing-boxes 6. The sides are secured to the circular body portion 4 by screws 7 in a manner to prevent the escape of steam.

A shaft 8 passes through the stuffing-boxes 6 and prevents, the escape of steam along the same. This shaft is journaled on standards or supports 9, which are provided with lateral extensions 10, to which the cylinder is bolted.

11 represents a fly-wheel, and 12 a pulley, both being secured to the shaft in any approved form. This pulley receives a belt, as is well known, to transmit power to any desired object.

The wheel-piston 13 is secured to the shaft 8 by means of a set-screws14 and is provided with peripheral flanges 15, which are separated bya channel 16. Partitions or paddles 17, which are set into grooves 18, formed in the periphery of the wheel, form the pockets 19. The steam is directed into the pockets and acts against the paddles, thereby revolving the wheel-piston.

The wheel-piston extends from side to side of the cylinder and in diameter is slightly less than the inner diameter of the cylinder.

20 represents segmental metallic packings which are set in grooves 21, .formed in the inner sides of the circular body portion 4. These packings are located in the upper part of the cylinder, directly over the flanges 15 of the wheel piston, and bear against the same to prevent the escape of steam between the circular body portion 4 and the flanges 15 and around the sides of the wheel-piston. By this construction the full force of the steam is held in the pocket directly in advance of the inlet and acts against the partition or paddle next above the inlet. Coil-springs 21,

which are located in the casing or cylinder, bear against the upper sides of the segmental packings and press the same against the flanges of the wheel-piston sufficiently to prevent the escape of steam between the same, the pressure, however, not being enough to act as a brake against the piston or produce" enough friction to diminish the power.

To prevent back pressure of the steam against the partition or paddle next below the inlet, a valve or gate 23 is pivoted, as at 3 24, directly below the steam-inlet. This valve bears with its free end against the channeled portion of the wheel-piston and closes all communication with the space below. It also directs the steam upwardly against the partition or paddle next above the valve. This valve or gate is raised when the wheel-piston revolves by the paddles or partitions striking against the lower side of the same. After the paddle passes up and away from the valve the latter is forced down into the pocket and bears against the channeled portion of the wheel-piston.

For the purpose of adjusting the downward movement of the valve or gate and prevent the same from striking too hard against the channeled portion of the piston after passing over a paddle a rod 25 is pivoted to the same and passes up and out through a stuffing-box 26, formed in the casing or cylinder. A coilspring 27 surrounds this rod and bears with its upper end against a washer 28, which latter is held in position by a thumb-nut 29, held in screw-threaded engagement with the rod.

30 represents a weight screwed to the outer end of the rod, its purpose being to force the valve 23 against the wheel-piston. By this construction the valve after passing over one of the partitions or paddles is forced against the wheel piston by the expansion of the steam and by the weight 30, which is secured 'to the outer end of the rod 25; but to prevent the valve striking too hard and bearing against the piston and acting as a brake to diminish the power or causing unnecessary wear on the valve the tension on the spring is regulated so as to bring said valve to bear against the piston only sufficiently to prevent the steam passing down between the two and act against the partition next below the valve.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing or cylinder having a steam-inlet and a steam-exhaust, and a revoluble wheelpiston located therein, of a valve pivoted in 1 said cylinder and adapted to bear against said wheel-piston to prevent back pressure, a rod 1 pivotally connected to said valve and extending out through said cylinder, a spring surrounding said rod and bearing with its lower end against said cylinder, and a nut screwthreadingly connected to the outer end of said rod and adapted to bear against the upper end of said spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing or cylinder having a steam-inlet f and a steam-exhaust, and a revoluble wheelpiston located therein, of a valve pivoted in said cylinder and adapted to bear against said wheel-piston with its free end to prevent back pressure, a rod pivotally connected to said valve and extending out through the cylinder','a spring surrounding said rod and bearing with its lower end against said cylinder, a thumb-nut screw-threadingly secured to said rod and bearing against the upper end of said spring, and a weight secured to the outer end of said rod, as and for the purpose set forth.

7 1 Witness my hand this 13th day of August, 1897.

7 JOHN DO'RNAN. Witnesses:

EMIL NEUHART,

DANIEL FUHR. 

